Van Gaal has been strongly linked with the Spurs job and on Wednesday reaffirmed his desire to manage at a “top team in the Premier League” when he steps down as Netherlands coach after the World Cup.

But Sherwood dismissed the 62-year-old’s claims in his pre-match press conference ahead of the second leg of Tottenham’s Europa League tie against Benfica.

“He's obviously destined to want to manage in England,” said Sherwood.

“He's got a good track record and he's a good manager. I'm sure he'll get his opportunity - he's been shouting loud enough for it.

“My future's out of my hands. I believe I'll be here next year. I'm planning for next season. The players are playing for their futures.”

Sherwood also moved to play down claims from Dnipro president Ihor Kolomoyskyi that Spurs are ‘perhaps close to signing a contract’ for winger Yevhen Konoplyanka, who almost joined Liverpool in January.

“He's obviously a player who's been linked with the club because he's a good player,” Sherwood continued. “He's certainly one who's being talked about, but there's nothing definitive.

“I think we have to make sure we see a lot more of these guys before they come in, not just the highlights because we've got to make sure we do our recruitment job on them.”

Pressed over whether the club were pushing forward with a deal for Konoplyanka, Sherwood added: “Not at the moment.

“Nobody else will come in here unless I sanction it. You can't work any other way.

“The manager has got to work with the players so, unless he gets the players he wants, it's always going to be an uphill task. He will always have the excuse of ‘well they're not my players’.”